Symptoms

Dandruff signs and symptoms may include:

• Skin flakes on your scalp, hair, eyebrows, beard, mustache or shoulders
• Itchy scalp
• Scaly, crusty scalp in infants with cradle cap

The signs and symptoms may be more severe if you are stressed, and they tend to flare in cold and dry seasons. If seborrheic dermatitis is the cause of dandruff, the symptoms usually appear gradually. The scalp becomes dry or greasy and feels itchy. As skin cells die, they turn to yellowish scales. A bad case of seborrheic dermatitis can also cause symptoms in other parts of the body. Yellowish or reddish scaling can appear on the hairline, in and around the ears, or on the nose and chest. Affected newborn babies may get a thick, yellowish, crusty rash on the scalp, called cradle cap.

Diagnosis

A doctor can often diagnose dandruff simply by looking at your hair and scalp.

Causes

Dandruff may have several causes, including:

• Irritated, oily skin
• Not shampooing enough
• A yeast-like fungus (malassezia) that feeds on oils on the scalps of most adults
• Dry skin
• Sensitivity to hair care products (contact dermatitis)
• Other skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema

Prevention

• Learn to manage stress: Stress affects your overall health, making you susceptible to a number of conditions and diseases. It can even help trigger dandruff or worsen existing symptoms.
• Eat a healthy diet: A diet that provides enough zinc, B vitamins and certain types of fats may help prevent dandruff.
• Shampoo often: If you tend to have an oily scalp, daily shampooing may help prevent dandruff. Gently massage your scalp to loosen flakes. Rinse thoroughly.
• Get a little sun: Sunlight may be good for controlling dandruff. Exposure to ultraviolet light damages your skin and increases your risk of skin cancer, so do not sunbathe. Instead, just spend a little time outdoors and be sure to wear sunscreen on your face and body.
• Limit hair styling products: Hair styling products can build up on your hair and scalp, making them oilier.

The itching and flaking of dandruff can almost always be controlled. For mild dandruff, try daily cleansing with a gentle shampoo to reduce oil and skin cell buildup. If that does not help, try a medicated dandruff shampoo. You may need to try more than one shampoo to find the hair care routine that works for you. You are also likely to need repeated or long-term treatment. Look for shampoo products containing one of these ingredients:

• zinc pyrithione
• salicylic acid
• selenium sulphide (or selenium sulfide)
• ketoconazole
• coal tar

Shampooing often enough can keep oils at bay, helping with dandruff symptoms. While you are at it, try to resist the urge to scratch your scalp. The itchiness is initially caused by irritation from dandruff, but scratching will increase irritation and lead to a vicious cycle.

Using too many products in your hair can irritate the scalp and lead to more itchiness. Try eliminating anything extra from your personal care routine and adding back slowly to discover which gels, sprays, and other products do not make your symptoms worse.